Sonam Tsering says, "We wanted to produce a tape because normally I compose songs, get the melody and the only people who hear it are in the same room as us. Because this is our first music it should be some religious music so we can show people how interested we are in religious and traditional songs.

We need to preserve the culture of the Spiti Valley. This is the beginning and we would like to start with some traditional instruments. We would like to continue and begin to compose modern Spiti songs as well."

Sonam, Phuntsok, Yashe and Kedar are all friends from the Spiti village of Tabo. Sonam owns the popular Kunzum Top restaurant in the centre of Tabo village and has been a trekking guide and social worker. Phuntsok is a trekking guide and driver. Yashe is a construction contractor from Kinnaur. Kedar is from Kinnaur.

Sonam and his friends Phuntsok, Detchen, Tashi, Palden and Shichit Namgin and Shichit Tsering and Lobsang Yeshi and many youths in Tabo are now working to establish a local music initiative to preserve the traditional music of the Spiti Valley to ensure they continue to enrich the lives of young Spitians and other music fans around the world.

For more information on the music on this album and the local music initiative please contact sonam_nadaan@yahoo.co.in or write to:

Sonam c/o Kunzum Top Restaurant
V.P.O. Tabo
District Lahaul and Spiti (HP)
172113 India

This album has been released online by www.littoralrecords.com

The inspiration for this album came from time spent in the Spiti Valley thanks to the team at Yak Trak Tours. To see the Spiti Valley for yourself, contact Yak Trak Tours at www.yaktrak.com

All photos © Alan Jones www.doingwords.com